VA Loans: $0 Down, No Monthly Mortgage Insurance. You Earned It.

The VA loan is the single strongest mortgage in America — $0 down, no monthly mortgage insurance, and competitive rates — and it's chronically underused because nobody explains it properly. If you served, this benefit was part of the deal. Use it.

What the benefit actually gets you

• $0 down payment on most purchases — keep your savings
• No monthly mortgage insurance — the line item every other low-down program charges
• Competitive rates — VA pricing typically beats conventional
• No official minimum credit score — lenders apply their own, generally flexible standards
• Reusable — the benefit doesn't expire and can be used again

The funding fee, honestly

Instead of monthly insurance, VA charges a one-time funding fee — typically 2.15% for first use with $0 down, 3.3% for subsequent use — almost always financed into the loan. Veterans with service-connected disability compensation are exempt entirely. Even paying it, the math beats FHA and low-down conventional in most head-to-heads because there's no monthly insurance drag.

Already have a VA loan? The IRRRL is your friend

The VA streamline (IRRRL) drops your rate with minimal paperwork — typically no appraisal, no income re-verification, and a reduced 0.5% funding fee. When rates fall, VA borrowers get the fastest, cleanest refi in the market. The blog calls out those windows.

Straight answers to common questions

How do I prove eligibility?

With a Certificate of Eligibility — Travis can usually pull it electronically in minutes with your basic service information.

Can surviving spouses use the benefit?

Eligible surviving spouses can, yes — including the funding-fee exemption in many cases.

Is there a VA loan limit?

With full entitlement there's effectively no VA-imposed limit — the lender's qualification math sets your ceiling.

Which states?

California, Oregon, Nevada, Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Florida, Texas, and Tennessee.